VAT Calculator — Add or Remove VAT From Any Amount
Net, VAT and gross from either direction, with the standard rates built in.
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| Net (before VAT) | 100.00 |
| VAT at 20% | 20.00 |
| Gross (including VAT) | 120.00 |
Add VAT to a net price, or start from a VAT-inclusive total and split out how much of it is tax. Both directions, calculated live, with one-tap presets for the standard rates in the UK, EU, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The remove direction is the one worth having a tool for — backing VAT out of a gross figure is not the same as knocking the percentage off, and doing it the intuitive way is one of the most common small-business bookkeeping errors.
How to use VAT Calculator
- Choose a direction. "Add VAT" starts from a net price; "Remove VAT" starts from a VAT-inclusive total.
- Enter the amount and set the rate — tap a preset or type any percentage.
- Read the breakdown: net, VAT and gross, whichever way you started.
- Copy the breakdown for your invoice, expense claim or spreadsheet.
Why removing VAT isn't "minus 20%"
A gross price of 120 at 20% VAT contains 20 of tax, not 24. The VAT was charged on the net figure (100), so to reverse it you divide by 1.20 — you don't multiply by 0.80. Subtracting 20% from 120 gives 96, which is wrong by a full 4, and on an expense claim or a VAT return that error compounds line after line.
The rule: net = gross ÷ (1 + rate). At 20% divide by 1.2, at 5% divide by 1.05.
Standard rates at a glance
- UK — 20% standard, 5% reduced (home energy, child car seats), 0% on most food and children's clothes.
- Germany — 19% standard, 7% reduced. France — 20%. Netherlands / Belgium / Spain — 21%. Ireland / Poland — 23%. Sweden / Denmark — 25%.
- Australia — 10% GST. New Zealand — 15% GST. South Africa — 15% VAT.
Rates change with budgets and vary by product category, so treat presets as the standard rate, not a ruling on your specific goods.
Gross-to-net for invoices
If you quote a customer 500 all-in and need to invoice it properly at 20%, the invoice lines are net 416.67 and VAT 83.33. Doing this backwards from the round total is normal — that's exactly what the remove mode calculates, to the penny.
Sales tax is different
US sales tax is added at the till and quoted prices exclude it, so there's rarely anything to "remove" — the percentage calculator covers adding it. VAT-style systems (UK, EU, GST countries) quote consumer prices with tax included, which is why this two-direction tool exists.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove VAT from a price?
Divide by one plus the rate. At 20% VAT, divide the gross price by 1.20; at 5%, divide by 1.05. A gross of 120 at 20% is 100 net and 20 VAT. Subtracting 20% instead (giving 96) is the classic mistake — the VAT was charged on the net, so a straight percentage off removes too much.
What is the VAT rate in the UK?
20% standard. A reduced 5% rate covers things like home energy and child car seats, and a 0% rate covers most food, books and children's clothes. Restaurants and hotels charge the standard rate. Rates change at budgets, so check gov.uk for anything you're invoicing.
What's the difference between net and gross?
Net is before VAT, gross is after. An invoice line of net 100 at 20% shows VAT 20 and gross 120. Consumer prices in VAT countries are quoted gross (the tax is already in the shelf price); business-to-business prices are typically quoted net.
Is this the same as a GST calculator?
Yes — GST in Australia (10%), New Zealand (15%), and elsewhere works the same way mathematically: a percentage added on the net price, included in quoted consumer prices. Set the rate and the add/remove logic is identical.
Why doesn't US sales tax work this way?
US sales tax is added at checkout, so shelf prices exclude it and vary by state and city. There's usually nothing to "remove" from a quoted price. To add sales tax to a price, either use Add mode with your local rate or the percentage calculator.
Can I use this for invoices?
Yes — that's the intended use. Quote a customer a round all-in figure, then use Remove mode to get the exact net and VAT lines for the invoice: 500 all-in at 20% is net 416.67, VAT 83.33. Figures are shown to two decimal places as invoices require.